• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-302
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• 2021

Objectives: To examine the effect of long-term Korean medicine treatment on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study was conducted on two patients who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and received long-term Korean medicine treatment. In order to evaluate the degree of cognitive decline, SNSB and K-MMSE were performed 2~3 times at the first visit and during the treatment process. Results: Both cases 1 and 2 were diagnosed with MCI with a high possibility of developing dementia. In case 1, MCI progressed to early dementia at one year after the diagnosis of MCI. However, in case 2, that MCI status was maintained without progressing to dementia for 4 years after the diagnosis of MCI. The cause of such difference in the course of MCI might be attributed to the fact that Case 1 had lower K-IADL level but higher SGDS level than Case 2 at the time of initial diagnosis, with weak family support and irregular herbal medicine intake. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment could improve and manage symptoms of cognitive decline due to MCI.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.638-649
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the cognitive function test tool in the clinical or multi-life environment for the elderly and high-risk demented subjects after the development of the non-clinical dementia early diagnosis test content(Co-Wis) based on the contents of the International Clinical Data Standard(CDISC TAUG-Alzheimer's v 2.0, SDTMIG v3.3) And to verify the validity and reliability of the data. To do this, after searching for dementia diagnosis process, we developed a non-clinical dementia diagnosis content(Co-Wis) that can supplement the shortcomings of the existing paper test. We selected 30 subjects from elders who were over 60 years old and verified the validity of test and the reliability of retest among cognitive domains of the Korean MMSE-K, Seoul Neuropsychological Test(SNSB-II) and non-medication dementia diagnosis content(Co-Wis). As a result, we showed high correlation and reliability in all cognitive domains. However, the limitations of insufficient subjects and regional distribution were identified. Based on the results of the study, we discussed the necessity of supplementing and expanding further studies such as various methods of verifying validity and reliability.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.924-934
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• 2017

Objective To investigate the anatomical correlates of the neuropsychological deficits in patients with the cerebellar stroke. Methods We screened patients who were admitted to the National Rehabilitation Center with the cerebellar stroke between October 2012 and November 2016. The patients with the cerebellar stroke who underwent neuropsychological testing for which the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) or the SNSB-II were enrolled. The neuropsychological function capacities were compared in accordance with the stroke type (hemorrhagic vs. ischemic) and the location (right/left anterior, right/left posterior intermediate, right/left posterior lateral lobe, and vermis). Mean z-scores were computed to compare the patient performances with the population averages. Results Twenty-six patients (15 with ischemic stroke and 11 with hemorrhagic stroke) with a mean age of $54.8{\pm}16.6$ years were assessed $8.8{\pm}9.2$ months after the stroke. Differences in the neuropsychological functioning according to the stroke type were not observed. All of the numerical subtests of the stroke patients showed significantly poorer performances compared with the population averages (mean z-score <0), and some of the subtests revealed abnormal performances in attention-, visuospatial function-, memory-, and frontal/executive function-related tasks (mean z-score <-1). The patients with the presence of a lesion in the right posterior intermediate lobe of the cerebellum showed a poorer performance in the subtests evaluating the executive function including the Korean-version Stroop Test (p=0.04), the Digit Symbol Coding Test (p=0.01), and the Korean-version Trail Making Test (p=0.02) compared with the patients without that lesion. Conclusion The present study confirms that the cerebellar stroke affects the neuropsychological functioning which is associated with the anatomical site of stroke.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2018

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who are treated by means of a blend between Western and Korean medicine. Methods: We searched for outpatients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment by means of a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine from August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2017, through electronic medical records in Wonkwang Hospital. The records were retrospectively analyzed according to the patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, pathway of medical care, diagnostic tests, treatment, and medical expenses. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the analysis. Among them, six patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, five with dementia, Alzheimer's type, one patient with frontotemporal dementia, and one patient with unspecified dementia. Twelve of the thirteen patients were over 60 years of age. The number of pathways from the Dept. of Neurology to the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry of Korean Medicine was almost the same as the opposite pathway. The most used diagnostic test in Korean medicine was a neuropsychological test such as SNSB, MMSE and GDS. In Western medicine, hematology and neuroimaging were frequently used for patients. Acupuncture in Korean medicine and medication in Western medicine were the most frequently used. In Korean medicine, uncovered service costs were much higher than covered service costs,. whereas, in Western medicine, covered service costs were higher than uncovered service costs. Conclusions: This study describes the basic characteristics of dementia and mild cognitive impairment patients treated by a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine. Based on these results, a clinical pathway of the collaborative practice system between Western and Korean medicine for dementia patients needs to be developed.